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Effective 08/17/16 NPSF has launched the 2nd Edition of the Patient Safety Curriculum and only the 2nd Edition is available for purchase. The 1st Edition is still accessible to those of you who purchased the 1st Edition. There is no upgrade path from the 1st to 2nd edition - they are separate courses which must be purchased separately. The 1st Edition can be accessed through your Groups hyperlink when signed in (top of every page), or click on the Quick Links (below-right).

Course Description

The NPSF Patient Safety Curriculum is a comprehensive 10-module, self-paced, online course providing the learner with the context, key principles, and competencies associated with the discipline of patient safety. The curriculum takes the learner through the history of the patient safety movement, describes the science and disciplines used in this work, presents current best practices, and outlines strategies for overcoming barriers to safe care. The modules are anchored by didactic audio/PowerPoint lectures given by NPSF board members and members of the Lucian Leape Institute at NPSF. The modules also include key resources and module quizzes to focus learners on key patient safety principles. This knowledge is imperative for those working in, or in partnership with, the health care system of today. Currently in its second edition, this course features exciting new topics such as: patient safety across the continuum of care, the joy and meaning of work and workforce safety, and an introduction to human factors and simulation.

CPPS Certification: Please note that this curriculum is not intended to be preparatory for the CPPS certification exam. The curriculum is a foundational patient safety course. It is recommended that those preparing for the certification exam complete the Self Assessment Exam and review the exam content outline and resource list found on the CBPPS home page.

CJCP Certification: The NPSF Online Patient Safety Curriculum has been approved by Joint Commission Resources as a continuing education activity in support of maintenance of the Certified Joint Commission Professional (CJCP) credential. If you have questions, write to: curriculum@npsf.org.

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Curriculum Foreword by Lucian Leape, MD

Chairman, Lucian Leape Institute at NPSF

Overview

The curriculum is designed to be self-paced and able to be used at the convenience of the learner. The material is presented through a variety of approaches that, as a whole, provide a rounded and in-depth presentation of the content. The 10 modules that comprise the curriculum are intended to be taken sequentially, but the learner is not precluded from taking them in order of preference. In order to receive continuing education (CE/CME) credits, all 10 modules must be taken, as validated by the completion of the module quizzes.

Module Content

Each of the 10 modules begins with a description of the content area, its significance to the patient safety work and the learning objectives that outline the knowledge base and skills that the module is intended to convey to the learner. Continuing education (CE/CME) credits for the curriculum are based upon these learning objectives. It is recommended that they be reviewed in advance and again, subsequent to completing the module, in order to ensure that the learner is reviewing the material in a manner and to the degree necessary to achieve the learning goals.

Module Faculty

The faculty for this curriculum are NPSF board members, members of the Lucian Leape Institute at NPSF, and leaders in the field, who were selected for their expertise and practical experience in the topic areas. Information on their backgrounds and qualifications can be seen by clicking on their names on the Module Content and Faculty page.

Recorded Lecture and PowerPoint

Each module contains an audio lecture on the topic, accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation that automatically advances as the lecture progresses. Each lecture is approximately 45 minutes in length.

The audio lecture for each module is also provided as a downloadable file, for those preferring to listen without the accompanying PowerPoint presentation. The PowerPoint presentation that accompanies the audio lecture is also provided for download and printing.

While the lecture and the PowerPoint are available to be accessed and used individually, the full conveyance of the module content requires that both be reviewed, either together or separately.

Key Resources

The literature in the patient safety field is quite extensive. The readings listed in this section of each module have been selected by the faculty and deemed to be essential for understanding the content area covered. In some instances, they represent the seminal publications in the topic area. In other instances, they have been selected for their ability to convey the major issues associated with the topic in a clear manner, often by authors who have been successful in bringing the learning to practice. In all instances, they provide further depth to the recorded lecture and are an integral component of the curriculum content.

Module Quiz

Each module contains a quiz to test the learner on the content and against the stated learning objectives. Each quiz contains 10 multiple choice questions. They are intended to help assess the learner's command of the content and indicate where further study might be needed. A score of 80 percent or higher is required on each quiz in order to be eligible for a certificate of completion or to apply for Continuing Education (CE/CME) credits. Quizzes may be retaken as many times as desired during the time the curriculum is available in order for the learner to continue to use the materials until the content is mastered.